As Mexico Celebrates the Bicentennial Anniversary of Its Independence, Few Local Restaurants Pay Attention

Going largely unnoticed and unobserved by most Mexican restaurants in Westchester County is the  bicentennial anniversary of Mexican Independence Day.  It takes place on Thursday, Sept. 16—this year will mark 200 years of freedom from Spain.  Independence Day is a bigger holiday in Mexico than Cinco de Mayo, but only a few restaurants in this area have special festivities planned for it. 

Cinco de Mayo (May 5), often mistaken by Americans for Mexican Independence Day, is when local Mexican restaurants celebrate with mariachi bands, hat dancing, flags, decorations and fiesta food. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the defeat of the French by the Mexican army at the battle of Puebla in 1862.

Manuel Garcia, chef/owner of Gusano Loco in Mamaroneck, said his restaurant will mark Mexican Independence Day by introducing leg of lamb, marinated and sliced thin to the restaurant's menu. "Even though you don't see lamb on many Mexican restaurant menus in America," he said, "it's very popular in Mexico."

A harpist will play traditional music from the state of Veracruz at Gusano Loco at dinnertime on September 16. "Much of the music that Mexico is known for originated in Veracruz," Garcia pointed out "and harp music is often played on festive occasions in Veracruz and on the Yucatan Peninsula."

In observance of Independence Day, Roasted Peppers in Mamaroneck, in additional to its regular menu, will offer an appetizer sampler platter for four. Priced at $18, it will include fried calamari, chicken quesadilla, grilled vegetables, guacamole and nachos with picadillo (ground beef). Another special for this day at a cost of $15 will be a platter of of carnitas (fried pork), pulled chicken, grilled steak or picadillo tacos, said co-owner Ruben Ochoa, Jr. Included are rice and beans, lettuce, pico de gallo and tomato salsa.

Roasted Peppers will offer the following Independence Day beverage specials:

• Pitcher of sangria or house margarita, in dining room, $18
• Bucket of six beers (excluding Captain Lawrence), in dining room, $22
• Sangria at the bar only, $5
• House drinks or wine at the bar only, $5
• House margaritas at the bar only, $5
• Beer at the bar only, $3

3 Jalapenos in Mamaroneck plans to serve three special dishes from September 16 to 19: chiles en nogada (chilies stuffed with picadillo, covered in a walnut sauce and topped with pomegranate seeds), filet mignon and a special to-be-determined shrimp dish; it will also offer an expanded list of flavored Margaritas.

Kiosco in Port Chester has hired a vocalist/guitar player to entertain on September 16, but otherwise will be offering its regular menu. 

South of the Border in Ossining will offer a  three-course prix-fixe dinner for $16.99. Azteca Mexican in Mount Kisco and Little Mexican Cafe in New Rochelle will add tempting specials to supplement the regular menu. La Herradura in Mamaroneck and Tequila Sunrise in Larchmont were considering similar action.

Que Chula in Sleepy Hollow will offer a free shot of tequila to men and a jamaica margarita to women at dinnertime. It will serve five special dishes in addition to the regular menu, priced from $17.95 to $21.95: 

• Chiles en nogada 
• Frijoles Charros (pinto beans, sausage and onions)
• Parrilla de Puebla (grilled chicken, pork, steak, with roasted cactus)
• Carnitas Sonora (pork loin in green sauce with roasted cactus)
• Bisteck achiote (similar to a New York steak with chipotle sauce).

3 Jalapenos is located at 690 Mamaroneck Ave., Mamaroneck. It is open on Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. On Sunday it is open from noon to 10 p.m. 914-777-1156. www.3jalapenos.com.

Gusano Loco is located at 1137 West Boston Post Rd., Mamaroneck. It is open on Monday through Thursday from noon to 11 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday from noon to midnight. On Sunday it is open from noon to 11 p.m.  It has patio seating easily spotted from the road. 777-1512.

Roasted Peppers is located at 320 Mamaroneck Ave.,  Mamaroneck.  Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. Dinner is offered from 4 to 10 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, from 4 to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 3 to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Brunch is available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. 914-341-1140. www.roastedpeppersny.com.

Que Chula es Puebla is located in the Valley Street business section of Sleepy Hollow at 180 Valley St.  The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. It has a small self-parking lot across the street.  914-332-0072.

Editor's note: The big fiesta falls on the evening of Sept. 15, when Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla originally called for the Spanish rule to end in Mexico. Also noteworthy is that on that same date, a few years later, this editor was born, and she will be celebrating both events with chiles en nogada and a guanabana margarita!